Happy New Year 2016 & a finish or two...

 "December 25th Pinkeep"

design by Stacy Nash 

for Country Sampler's Girls Club

This was a last finish for 2015 as I put in the final cross stitches on New Years Eve.

I also counted it as a first finish for 2016 as I put the pinkeep together on New Years Day.

 I used the same red rickrack finish as my other Stacy Club holiday finishes.

I thought it might look nice displayed with a bit of holly, but as I couldn't find any live holly this year, I had to make my own.

I thought it turned out rather sweet :)

I may need to make more next Christmas...

2015 was a milestone year for me and my family. 

Our youngest son turned 18 and our oldest son turned 21.

My husband and I reached our 30th wedding anniversary 

and I turned the big "five-oh".

I also celebrated 25 years working for the same company.

A year of blessings for sure!!!

Let's see what 2016 holds...

My husband and I started our year with breakfast at a local diner

and then took a three mile walk on the forest preserve trails.

The walk was a peaceful way to start the year.

Enjoying the quiet colors and stillness.

It was only 20 degrees out, but it gave me a chance to try out 

the new winter coat that I received for Christmas. Guaranteed to -30, it sure kept me toasty!

Peanut has been enjoying the snow ~ digging, rolling and eating it whenever he gets the chance!

Leia, on the other hand, has decided that it is way too cold out.

 She's enjoying her new winter coat and snood ~ even inside lol!

  

I was excited to find a coat that fits her so well.

Weiner Wraps Etsy Shop was a pleasure to shop with.

You can find the shop here.

I know that most people have already moved on to Valentine's Day...

I'm still enjoying my Christmas decorations, but hope to take them down this weekend.

I'll decorate for Winter for the rest of January before putting up my Valentine's.

 

*For those that have asked, the wool applique on the back of the loveseat is an old Maggie Bonanomi design. I believe it was from the first Country Sampler Boxwood & Berries event and to my knowledge has never been released...

And I have one more Christmas post to share...

A Stitch Club Christmas :)

So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2:16-19

Blessings, Patti